Rail-chair and clamping means therefor.



A. G. LIEBMANN. RAIL CHAIR AND GLAMPING MEANS THBREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1913.

Patented Jan. 26, 1915.

i limzooeo NORR!S PE TEES UNITED STAIEES PATENT OFFIQE.

AUGUST G. LIEBIVIANN, OF BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR T VIGNOLES RAIL CHAIRCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RAIL-CHAIR AND GLAILVIPING MEANS THEREFOR.

Application filed April 28, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUoUsr G. LIEBMANN, citizen of the United States,residing at Butte, in the county of Silverbow and State a of Montana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Chairs andClamping Means Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway track appliance and particularly torail chairs, and to clamping means for supporting the rail within thechair.

The object of the invention is the provision of a very simple andeffective form of rail chair so constructed thata rail may be supportedfirmly upon a tie and braced against vertical thrust, lateral thrust andany tendency to tip under the action of a train.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable rail chairadapted for holding rails in fixed position but allowing for adjustmentof gage and permitting shimming without disturbance of the primaryfastening of the rail to the track and with this adjustabilityeliminating consequent chance of accidental shifting and lost motion dueto the wear of parts and consequent disalineinent of rails, disturbanceof gage and overturning of rails.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the body portion ofthe chair that it may be formed from an I-beam section by means ofrolling and pressing, thus rendering the chair economical to manufactureand practical in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with thechair, rail supporting braces so disposed as to engage between the baseof the rail and the head thereof, thus bracing the rail against anytendency to tip, and to provide in connection with these braces meansfor forcing the braces into rigid engagement with the rail, such meansbeing adjustable so that the rail and the braces may be shiftedlaterally relative to the chair or adjusted vertically relative thereto.

A further object of the invention is to so construct a chair of thischaracter that the flange of the rail will be relieved of any shearingstrain and so that if the rail is deformed by any cause such as thelifting of a portion of the track or the rail, the flange of the railwill not be sheared off but the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 26, 1915.

Serial No. 764,150.

locking keys will yield the slight amount necessary to prevent theshearing action.

A further object is to provide a means whereby a track walker or sectionhand may laterally adjust the rail relative to the chair or verticallyadjust the rail relative thereto without the necessity of removing alarge number of spikes, adjusting the rail and then replacing thespikes, this operation requiring a section gang for its proper carryingout.

A further object of the invention is the provision in connection with achair having oppositely disposed abutments and rail braces of thecharacter before described, of clamping wedges moving inwardly to forcethe braces into rigid engagement with the rzltil and means for lockingthe wedges in ace.

A still further object is the provision in a chair as above described,of means whereby auxiliary wedges may be used for the purpose of forcingthe primary wedges into their adjusted position and so as to force,

the rail braces into solid engagement with the rail and so as to adjustthe rail laterally.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tie and rail and the improved chairapplied thereto; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view partly inelevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe construction shown in Fig. 2; Fig.4: is a diagrammatic sectionalview of a structural element consisting of an I-beam showing in dottedlines the manner in which this structural element is to be sent in orderto form my chair per 86.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawingsby the same reference characters.

Referring to these figures, A designates a tie of any suitableconstruction but preferably of wood and B designates a rail which may beof any suitable form but is illustrated as a standard rail. Resting uponthe tie and supporting the rail is my improved chair which consists of abed plate 1 having a flat lower face adapted to rest upon the face ofthe tie, the bed plate being perforated for the passage of screw spikes2 or spikes of any other suitable character. These screw spikes form thepermanent or primary fastenings whereby the plate is held to the tie.

he bed plate is formed with upwardly extending transverse flanges 3constituting parallel spaced abutments. These flanges are spaced fromeach other a distance greater than the width of the rail base. Each ofthese abutments is formed with a longitudinally extended slot or opening4 the purpose of which will hereafter appear.

Disposed between the head of the rail and the base flange thereof oneach side of the Web is a bracing plate designated 5. These rail bracesconsist of rolled sections of metal and are especially designed toprovide for the vertical expansion or contraction of the rail. The upperend of each brace is rounded and beveled so as to engage with the underface of the head of the rail at its intersection with the web. The lowerend of each brace is formed with an enlarged bevel faced base Which isadapted to rest upon the upper face of the base flange adjacent the edgeof the flange. The outer face of each brace is upwardly and inwardlyinclined and a wedge-shaped space is thus left between each abutment andthe outer face of each brace. Disposed in this space are the primarywedges 6; Both of these wedges are alike in construction. Each wedge hasa flat outer face which bears against the inner face of thecorresponding abutment and an inclined inner face which bears againstthe inclined outer face of the corresponding rail brace 5. The wedges 6are slightly longer than the rail brace 5 and have end flanges or lips 7which engage over the ends of the corresponding rail brace thus lockingthe rail brace from any longitudinal movement rela tive to the wedge 6.Each wedge 6 at its middle is formed with a recess 8 which opens uponthe outer face of the wedge. This recess 8 on its inner face extendsdownwardly from the top of the wedge, then downwardly and outward andthen extends horizontally outwardly. Each of these re cesses 8 isdisposed at the middle of the wedge 6 and therefore each of the slots lin the corresponding abutment opens into one or these recesses S.

Disposed in each recess 8 is a locking member 9. This locking member isangular in form. One leg of the locking member is adapted to extendthrough the slot 4: while the other leg extends upwardly in the recess 8and above the upper face of the wedge. Each locking member is formed onits inner side with a straight or vertical face and with a downwardlyand outwardly inclined face, and the upper end of each locking memberwhere it projects above the upper face of the wedge is formed with atapered opening extending parallel to the rail and adapted to receive atapered key designated 10. This opening is so disposed as to give apoint of contact between the key 10 and the surface of the tighteningwedge at both ends of the key after the same has been inserted into theopening of the lock.

It will be seen that the member 9 constitutes a tenon and that therecess 8 constitutes a mortise in which the tenon is placed and thatthis tenon locks the wedge from any longitudinal movement and that thewedge in turn locks the rail brace from any longitudinal movement.Furthermore it will be seen that the'key 10 looks the Wedge from anyupward movement and that the farther in this key is driven, the greaterwill be the downward force exerted upon the wedge. This key be held inplace by any suitable means but as illustrated the key is formed with aplurality of transverse perforations for the reception of bolts 11.- Asillustrated there are three or more perforations 12 in each key for thereception of the bolt, thus providing for three adjustments of thetapering key 10. The under face of the key 10 is flat but the upper faceis beveled or tapered so that as the key is driven inwardly, it willactto force downwardly on the wedge 6. This downward pressure on the wedge6 will of course be transformed into a lateral pressure acting to forcethe rail braces 5 into firm engagement with the rail. If now one of thekeys 10 be inserted into one tenon to a position where the first bolthole is disposed beyond the tenon and the other key be driven home, itwill be obvious that the rail will be forced laterally and thus will belaterally adjusted relative to the chair. By making the recesses ormortises l deeper than the depth of the tenons 9, provision is made forlifting the rail and braces relative to these wedges and for theinsertion of one or more shims beneath the rail to lift it to a greateror less degree. Of course the tapering keys 10 will be adjusted inaccordance with the elevation of the rail and these tapering keys willbe driven more fully home when the rail rests upon the bed plate of thechair than when the rail is raised by the shims.

While shims may not be used under all circumstances, there has beenillustrated, in Fig. 1, a shim designated 13 disposed between the baseof the rail and the bed plate.

The advantages of the present chair are as follows: By the adjustment ofthe taper ing keys 10 in the openings of the looking tenon, thetightening wedges 6 may be tightened or released which will admit of therail being raised and a shim or shims placed between the base of therail and the bed plate. By adjusting the tapering keys in the lockingtenons, the rail may be moved laterally to allow for a variation in gageas required on curves. The tenon is locked in place by the engagement ofthe short leg of the tenon through the slot 4: so that the tenon isalways held from displacement and thus prevented from gradual workingout of the tenon due to vibration and jar. Inasmuch as the tapering keysengage with the locking tenons and force the wedges downward, andinasmuch as the wedges engage with the rail brace upon one side and withthe corresponding abutment on the other side, the rail is securely boundto and engaged with the chair.

The construction permits the rail to be laterally or vertically adjustedwithout removing the primary fastenings, that is, the screw spikes orbolts holding the chair to the tie. This adjustment may be made with aminimum of labor and the only tool required is a sledge-hammer fordriving the tapering keys 6 home. By providing primary fastenings notsubjected to any pulling action by the thrust upon a rail and with theelimination of consequent spike wear, inferior grades of wood can beused as ties and treated so as to double the normal life of an untreatedtie. Thus there will be a decided resultant economy in maintenance inthat there will be practically no disturbance of the track.

The improved rail chair will prevent spreading and overturning of therails due to the shearing of spikes and will provide a safe means ofholding the rails to wood ties even under heavy high speed trafiic.Furthermore the improved rail holding means and chair prevents thecreeping of the rails or at least reduces creeping to a minimum. Againthe rail brace will engage the rail with a certain resiliency and willyield when the rail is placed under undue stress thus preventing thebase flange of the rail from being sheared under these circumstances.

The type of chair above described is particularly adapted for linesextending through mountainous districts where the grade of the track isconstantly varying and where there is liable to be excessive curvature.Under these circumstances the track is subjected to great stress andstrains and the improved rail chair and clamping means is particularlyadapted to resist these strains and to be used under circumstances whereresistance must be made to lateral thrust. It is the common practice inthis country to slightly incline the rail by slightly beveling the faceof the tie. It is obvious, of course, that the bed plate may be alsosupported in a slightly inclined position by beveling the face of thetie or the plate.

Particular attention may be called in connection with my improved railchair to the oii'icial report of the Block Signal and Train ControlBoard of the Interstate Commerce Commission, this report being datedJune 29, 1912, wherein certain requirements are laid down for railsupports and wherein the board says: fundamental defect in de sign whichis most apparent is the failure to realize and appreciate theoverturning movement due to the wheel flange pressure against the headof the rail. It is not suilicient that the tie should support thevertical loads and resist directly horizontal thrusts and the tendencyof the track to move laterally and longitudinally, but the overturningmovement must be resisted. In order that the tie may properly supportthe stresses transmitted to it by the rail, a suitable fastening of therails to the ties is most essential. Further the report states thatunder conditions existing in a large proportion of the railroads in thiscountry the means of adjustment of rail to tie must be such as to admitof blocking up or shimming. The board further says that adequate meansshould be provided for shimming or for widening gage and this meansshould not involve lost motion and change of adjustment. It is pointedout that the improved rail chair, as heretofore described, conforms toall of the requirements referred to in this report and at the same time.

.in adjusted position.

2. The combination with a bed-plate having upstanding abutments, of arail adapted to rest on the bed-plate or on a shim and adjustablevertically and laterally with respect to the bed-plate, means forpermanently securing the bed-plate to a sub-structure, adjustable railwedging members disposed between the abutments and rail, and meansoperatively engaging the abutments for holding said wedges in adjustedposition.

3. The combination with a bed-plate having upstanding abutments, of arail adapted to rest on the bed-plate or on a shim between saidabutments, rail braces engaging the base and head of the rail and havingoutwardly and downwardly inclined outer faces, vertically movablewedging members disposed between the abutments and rail braces andengaging therewith, and means for holding said wedging members inadjusted position.

4t. The combination with a bed-plate hav ing upstanding abutments, of arail adapted to rest on the bed-plate or on a shim between saidabutments and adjustable vertically and laterally with respect to thebed-plate, means for permanently securing the bedplate to asub-structure, rail braces resting on the base of the rail and bearingagainst the under side of the head thereof, said rail braces havingoutwardly and downwardly inclined outer faces, a vertically movable W8Cge disposed between each abutment and the corresponding rail brace, saidwedges having end flanges engaging over the ends of the correspondingbrace, and means for preventing longitudinal movement of the wedges.

5. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding, parallel abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,each of said abutments being formed with an opening, a verticallymovable wedge disposed on the inner side of each abutment, each wedgehaving a mortise opening upon the outer face of the wedge, and a wedgelocking member angular in form disposed within each mortise and hav ingone leg thereof projectingthrough the opening in the correspondingabutment.

6. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding parallel abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,each of said abutments being formed with an opening, a verticallymovable wedge disposed on the inner side of each abutment, each wedgehaving a mortise opening upon the outer face of the wedge,.a wedgelocking member angular in form di posed within each mortise and havingone leg thereof projecting through the opening in the correspondingabutment, and means for holding said Wedge members in adjusted position.

7. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding, parallel abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a railbase,each of said abutments being formed with an opening, verticallymovable wedge disposed on the inner side of each abutment, each wedgehaving a mortise opening upon the outer face of the wedge, a wedgelocking member angular in form dis posed within each mortise and havingone leg thereof projecting through the opening in the correspondingabutment, and keys passing transversely through the upper ends of thelocking members and bearing upon the upper faces of the wedges.

8. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding, parallel abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,each of said abutments being formed with an opening, a verticallymovable wedge disposed on the inner side of each abutment, each wedgehaving a mortise opening upon the outer face of the wedge, a ,wedgelocking member angular in form disposed within each mortise and havingone leg thereof projecting through the opening in the correspondingabutment, and tapering keys passing transversely through the upper endsof the locking members and bearing upon the upper faces of the wedges.

9. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding, parallel abutmentsspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base,each of said abutments being formed with an opening, a verticallymovable wedge disposed on the inner side of each abutment, each wedgehaving a mortise openiiig upon the outer face of the wedge, a wedgelocking member angular in form disposed within each mortise and havingone leg thereof projecting through the opening in the correspondingabutment, tapering keys passing transversely through the upper ends ofthe locking members and bearing upon the upper faces of the wedges, andmeans for holding said keys in adjusted position.

10. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding, abutments spacedfrom each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base, eachofsaid abutments being formed with an opening, a vertically movablewedge disposed on the inner side of each abutment, each wedge having amortise opening upon the outer face of the wedge, a wedge locking memberangular in form disposed within each mortise and having one leg thereofprojecting through the opening in the corresponding abutment, taperingkeys passing transversely through the upper ends of the locking membersand bearing upon the upper faces of the wedges, each key being formedwith a plurality of transverse openings, and pins adapted to be insertedin said openings to hold the keys from shifting.

11. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding, abutments spacedfrom each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base, railbraces adapted to engage the head and base flange of a rail and eachhaving an outwardly and downwardly inclined outer face, a wedge for eachside of the rail, each wedge having a flat outer face adapted to contactwith the corresponding abutment and an inclined inner face adapted tocontact with the inclined face of the corresponding rail brace, lockingmeans for each wedge adapted to engage the wedge and the abutment tohold the wedge from longitudinal movement, and means for holding saidlooking means in adjusted position and engaging the corresponding Wedge.

12. A rail chair including a bed plate, upstanding, abutments spacedfrom each other a distance greater than the width of a rail base, railbraces adapted to engage the head and base flange of a rail and eachhaving an outwardly and downwardly inclined outer face, a Wedge for eachside of the rail, each wedge having a fiat outer face adapted to contactwith the corresponding abutment and an inclined inner face adapted tocontact with the inclined face of the corresponding rail bra e, lockingmeans for each wedge adapted to engage the wedge and the abutment tohold the wedge from longitudinal movement, and means engaging thelocking means and the wedge adapted to force the wedge downward.

13. The combination with a tie and a rail, of a chair comprising a platehaving approximately the same width as the tie, the chair being formedwith upstanding abutments spaced from the ends of the bed plate andspaced from each other a distance greater than the width of the base ofsaid rail, each of said abutments being slotted, upwardly and inwardlyinclined rail braces resting at their lower ends upon the rail base andat their upper ends engaging beneath the head of the rail, verticallymovable wedges longer than said rail braces and having end flangesengaging over the rail braces, means for preventing longitudinalmovement of said wedges, and means for forcing said wedges downward andholding them in adjusted position.

14. The combination with a bed-plate having an upstanding abutment, of arail adapted to rest on the bed'plate or on a shim and adjustablevertically and laterally with respect to the bed-plate, a rail holdingmember, a wedging member bearing against the rail holding member, meansfor interlocking the wedging member with the abutment but per mittin g avertical movement of said wedging member, and means engaging thelast-mentioned means for exerting downward pressure upon the wedgingmember.

15. In a rail chair, a bed plate having an upstanding abutment, a railbrace, a wedging member disposed between the abutment and the railbrace, a member interlocking the wedging member with the abutment andpreventing longitudinal movement of the wedging member and preventingvertical upward movement of the wedging member beyond a predeterminedheight, and means engaging said interlocking member for forcing thewedging member downward.

16. A rail chair having a seat and provided with upstanding abutments,rail braces adapted to engage the head and base of a rail, respectively,vertically movable wedges cooperating with the abutments and rail bracesfor holding a rail directly on a seat or on a shim, and means forexerting a locking pressure upon the wedges.

17. A rail chair having a seat and provided with upstanding abutments,oppositely disposed braces located between the abutments and havingdownwardly and outwardly inclined faces, vertically movable wedgesdisposed between the rail braces and abutments for holding a raildirectly on the seat or on a shim, and means for exerting a downwardpressure on the wedges for clamping the base of the rail on said seatorshim.

18. A rail chair having a seat and pro vided with upstanding abutments,rail braces adapted to engage the head and base of a rail, respectively,vertically movable wedges interposed between the abutments and railbraces for holding a rail directly on the seat or on a shim and providedwith openings, and means extending through said openings for exerting alocking pressure upon the wedges.

19. The combination with a bed-plate having a seat and provided withupstanding abutments, of a rail resting on the seat or on a shim betweensaid abutments, rail braces disposed on opposite sides of the rail,vertically movable wedges interposed between the abutments and railbraces and provided with lips bearing against the rail braces, and meanspiercing the wedges for exerting a downward pressure thereon.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST G. LIEBMAIJN. [1 s] Witnesses:

Fnnnnnic B. WRIGHT, J. D. YOAKLEY.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G.

